i know we make a lot of jokes on this site about enrichment and stuff but like. i was just talking to one of my clients today about the importance of novelty to the human brain. if you’ve been feeling bored, detached, just kind of gross, floating from day to day, get some enrichment in that brain!!
doing Something Weird And Unusual can drastically improve the mood of a bored brain. but i also recognize that its hard to think of stuff when youre in that zone, so i came up with a list to help out! it has a balance of sensory, physical, intellectual, outdoor, indoor, cheap, and free stuff
some tips:
choose a consistent time/amount to use the list (suggestion: once a week, which isn’t too time consuming but is enough to see benefits when used short- and long-term)
if youre struggling with decision making or commitment, roll a d20 to decide what to do. reroll if it’s something you do often anyway, if weather does not permit, if you dont have money/supplies, etc
if you do a lot of intellectual/escapist activities, maybe focus on grounded, physical, and outdoor stuff. opposite applies too, if you’re a physical/active person, focus on intellectual, artistic, and indoor stuff
not everything is accessible to everyone, so feel free to make your own list with stuff you can do! i require no credit for anything on here, reuse or edit how you please. if you repost with your own, linking back to the original is nice but not required
the enrichment list:
take 5 photos of things you’ve never seen/noticed before
try a new food (bonus for spicy/crunchy/sensory)
make a sculpture with play doh or clay
collect leaves to press into a book
make a paper cut out scene
read a chapter of a book backwards by page
make a mud pie
listen to 5 songs in a new music genre & write your thoughts on them
fingerpaint
make a pillow fort
create a 1 page TTRPG
read a play out loud (by yourself or with friends)
paint your nails if you don’t usually (try designs if you do)
prepare an interesting meal/dessert
take a walk somewhere new (or take a new route home)
do a body scan meditation
do elaborate, fun makeup (designs! glitter! tiger stripes!)
Enrichment time! Obby and Moomoo love their snuffle mat. Obby is always really nervous when I get the phone near him for pictures, it always makes him look startled. Moomoo’s face is so happy. They love those sunflower seeds.
